Energy consumption patterns in rural households have significant implications for socio-economic development, environmental sustainability, and public health of rural communities. Promoting clean energy transitions in line with global sustainability goals underscores the need to investigate the determinants of energy choices for cooking and lighting among rural households in Imo State. The study examined the demographic characteristics of the households in the study area; identified the sources of energy available to the rural households for cooking and lighting; ascertained the share of clean energy in the energy mix consumed by the households; ascertained the households’ knowledge of the benefits of clean energy consumption; examined the determinants of the choice of energy used by the households in Imo State; and identified the constraints to clean energy consumption by the households. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 185 rural households, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The findings reveal that 77% of households used dirty fuels for cooking, while 52% relied on dirty fuels for lighting. Critical determinants of energy consumption include income, education, and membership in social organizations. Barriers to clean energy consumption include the high cost of clean fuels, limited access to clean energy technologies, and socio-cultural factors. The study concludes that many rural households still consume dirty fuels for cooking and lighting. Promoting clean energy use in rural communities in Imo State requires targeted interventions and implementing awareness campaigns on the benefits of clean energy.